Manchester City Concern Over Rodri's Injury

Manchester City's manager, Pep Guardiola, is anxiously awaiting further information regarding the severity of Rodri's knee injury, sustained during the dramatic draw with Arsenal, BBC reported. The Spain international went down clutching his knee in the 21st minute, just before Riccardo Calafiori equalized the match. Guardiola hadn't consulted medical staff immediately after the game and acknowledged that strong-willed Rodri would not have left the pitch unless he was significantly troubled.

Rodri's withdrawal saw Mateo Kovacic enter the fray, with Ruben Dias eventually filling in as a central midfielder – a tactical shift that may have altered the game’s dynamics. In games Rodri has played since his signing in 2019, City has won 74% of the time, compared to 64% when he’s absent.

Guardiola heaped praise on Rodri, labeling him the best holding midfielder in the world and a potential Ballon d'Or winner. He did, however, note that matches against teams like Arsenal demand adaptability and resilience, which his team exhibited in various facets despite the setback.

Ruben Dias, who had to fill an unusual midfield role, played a pivotal part with 136 touches during the game, predominantly on the edge of the Arsenal box. Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta's defensive strategies and Leandro Trossard's red card shaped Arsenal’s approach to defending their 2-1 lead rigorously.

Guardiola appreciated the mental toughness shown by Arsenal while acknowledging his team's effort in creating scoring opportunities through Jack Grealish and others. Saves by Arsenal’s goalkeeper, Raya, and some missed control over the second ball complicated City's attacking efforts.

Earlier, SSP reported that the England striker Ivan Toney shines for Al-Ahli with a stellar performance.